Pawar criticises PM’s fast for Lord Ram

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for observing a 10-day fast ahead of the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha (consecration ceremony). Mr. Pawar said that BJP and RSS are playing politics in the name of Ram Temple. Ridiculing Mr. Modi's fast for Lord Ram, the NCP chief said that the PM should have observed fast for eradicating poverty from the country.

Mr. Pawar was speaking at a public gathering at Nipani in Karnataka. In his address, he said that all the people of the country have faith in Lord Ram. “No one disrespects Lord Ram. Millions of people in the country have respect for him. Even the Indians living aboard worship Lord Ram. Nobody has opposed the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. In fact shilanyas (laying of first stone) for a Ram temple at Ayodhya were conducted during Rajiv Gandhi's time,” the veteran politician said.

“After this, some people approached the court and the case went on for many years. Recently, the case was decided and the court approved the construction of the Ram temple,” Mr. Pawar added.

Alleging that the BJP and RSS have begun doing politics in the name of Ram, the NCP chief said that the ruling party is dividing the society in the name of temple. “Yesterday, the Prime Minister of the country said that he was going to observe fast for 10 days for Ram. I have respect for his faith in Ram. But he should also do such things to eradicate poverty in the country, people would have appreciated him,” Mr. Pawar sarcastically said.

The NCP chief said that in order to divert the attention of people from the fundamental issues of the country, religious issues are being raised.